US4413923A - Self-cleaning reflective road marker - Google Patents

Self-cleaning reflective road marker Download PDF

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Publication number
US4413923A
US4413923A US06/262,795 US26279581A US4413923A US 4413923 A US4413923 A US 4413923A US 26279581 A US26279581 A US 26279581A US 4413923 A US4413923 A US 4413923A
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United States
Prior art keywords
stud
self
reflector
cleaning
marker
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Expired - Fee Related
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US06/262,795
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English (en)
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Bernard Wright
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Publication of US4413923A publication Critical patent/US4413923A/en
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/50—Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users
    • E01F9/553—Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members
    • E01F9/565—Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members having deflectable or displaceable parts
    • E01F9/571—Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members having deflectable or displaceable parts displaceable vertically under load, e.g. in combination with rotation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to self-cleaning reflective road markers of the kind having a housing insertable into the road surface, a stud movably located within the housing, said stud carrying a reflector, said stud being movable from a first position to a second position in response to an actuating force resilient means located within the housing for urging the stud from the second position to the first position upon removal of said actuating force and reflector cleaning means located in the housing between said first and said second positions.
  • U.K. Pat. No. 266,904 there is disclosed an omnidirectional self-cleaning road marker.
  • the reflector is spherical and when a tyre passes over the reflector, the reflector is simultaneously depressed against a coil spring and rotated past an o-ring which effects a wiping action on the reflector surface. On removal of the force applied by the tyre the reflector is urged into its normal reflecting position.
  • a flat annular disc is removably mounted on the marker and enables the reflector and the rubber o-ring to be replaced.
  • a disadvantage of this type of marker is that the reflector per se is in contact with the wheels and therefore it becomes damaged and requires frequent replacement.
  • dirt and oil can accumulate at the junction of the flat disc and the reflector impairing the effectiveness of the reflector.
  • a reflective self-cleaning road marker has four reflectors circumferentially spaced around the stud which is depressible under the action of a wheel force relative to the housing.
  • the stud is not rotatable relative to the housing.
  • the housing has an upper circular flanged portion with four sloped shoulders equiangularly spaced to give protection to the stud against snowploughs and the like.
  • Each reflector is located between a respective pair of shoulders to reflect light, effectively giving 360° reflectivity.
  • the entire upper flanged portion is removable from the lower portion, which enables the o-ring to be replaced and facilitates replacement of a damaged reflector.
  • a disadvantage of this type of marker is that the whole upper flange requires to be removed to carryout replacement which is time-consuming and cumbersome.
  • a further disadvantage is that the o-ring is continuously exposed to the exterior and is in contact with hydrocarbons which can result in rapid perishing of the rubber. Dirt, hydrocarbons and the like can also build up at the junction of the flat o-ring surface and the reflector reducing the effectiveness of the marker.
  • the reflectors are permanently located in the stud and thus the whole stud requires to be replaced, which is expensive.
  • U.K. Pat. No. 696,707 discloses an omnidirectional self-cleaning road marker having a removable reflector.
  • the marker comprises a hollow mushroom-shaped rubber member with the stem having an internally screw-threaded member bonded thereto.
  • the reflectors are mounted in a screw-threaded stud which is engageable within the internally screw-threaded member such that the reflectors just extend above the rubber dome of the marker.
  • the invention claimed is intended to provide a remedy. It solves the problem of providing a replaceable reflector and cleaning means by using a two-part depressible stud which retains the reflector when the parts are connected together one part of the stud being removable when in-situ whereby the reflector and the cleaning means can be removed for examination and/or replaced.
  • the whole stud does not require to be removed from the road; the replacement procedure is very rapid and requires only conventional tools; the colour of reflector can be quickly changed to suit traffic conditions; the simplicity of the invention provides an efficient self-cleaning reflective marker which is maintainable for very low cost, and the marker is flexible in that it can be rapidly adapted not only for use on roads but also on aircraft runways, and the like.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a reflective road marker according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the reflective road marker according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the road marker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the stud of the road marker shown in FIGS. 1,3.
  • a reflective road marker comprises a generally circular flanged disc 1 and a slightly frustoconical road mounting portion 2.
  • the disc 1 has four equiangularly spaced shoulders 1a and a flanged portion 1b which radially extends beyond the portion 2 and which also extends around the circumference of the portion 2 (FIG. 2).
  • the flanged portion 1b also slopes radially down towards the outer circumference (FIG. 3).
  • the flanged disc 1 is secured to the mounting portion 2 by four bolts 3, each bolt being located so that its threaded head 3a is received by an internally threaded portion of a respective shoulder 1a.
  • the flanged disc portion 1 has a circular aperture 4 in which a generally cylindrical stud 5 is located.
  • the cylindrical stud 5 consists of two portions; an upper portion 5a and a lower plate-shaped portion 5b having an internally captured thread.
  • the portion 5a is secured to the portion 5b by a threaded screw 6.
  • the portion 5b has a lip 7 which abuts the lower surface 1d of the flanged portion 1.
  • the lip 7 has four cut-outs 7a each of which engages with a respective bolt 3 (FIGS. 3-5).
  • portion 5a into which a removable and/or disposable cap 9 is located.
  • the cap 9 presents ingress of dirt and oil into the recess 8.
  • annular rectangular channel section 10 is defined.
  • a circumferential reflector 11 is located in the section 10 and is covered by an annular glass cover 12.
  • the reflector 11 is made of a highly reflective laminated sheeting and the cover 12 is made of borosilicate glass which is highly resistant to scratching.
  • a key 13a is located in the lower surface of portion 5a which engages with a keyway 13b in the disc portion 7c of the lower portion 5b, which presents the upper portion 5a rotating relative to the lower portion 5b.
  • a rubber o-ring 14 is located in a recess 14a in the flanged portion 1b, the inner surface of the o-ring being of a slightly small diameter than the cover glass 12 whereby the o-ring 14 presses lightly on the cover glass 12.
  • the lower surface 7 of the portion 5b and the interior of the mounting portion 2 define a chamber 15 in which a resilient rubber pad 16 is located.
  • the pad 16 is of a hollowed-out hemispherical shape which has been formed to give suitable performance.
  • the pad 16 has four cut-outs which are spaced around the pad, so that one cut-out engages with a respective bolt 3.
  • the base 2b of the housing portion 2 has intersecting plates 17 extending therefrom, the plates serving to provide increased attachment between the road surface and the marker, and to prevent rotation of the disc relative to the road surface.
  • a generally cylindrical core is taken from the surface and an adhesive inserted, such as tar or any other suitable adhesive.
  • the marker is then inserted into the road surface such that the underside 1d of the disc 1 abuts the road surface.
  • the weight causes the stud 5 to be depressed relative the portions 1 and 2 compressing the rubber pad 16 and forcing the cover glass 12 past the rubber o-ring 14 whereby any dirt or traffic film is removed from the glass surface.
  • the bolts 3 act as guides for the plate 5b to prevent rotation of the whole stud 5 and to give consistent reciprocating movement.
  • the plastic cap 9 is removed by a sharp instrument such as an awl and the threaded screw 8 unscrewed.
  • the portion 5a is then lifted off and the cover glass 12 and the reflector 11 can be removed.
  • the o-ring 14 can be easily removed from its recess 14a.
  • the flanged portion 1b is sloped away from the reflector 11 so that passing tyres can disperse dirt and oil from the reflector. Also rain water and other liquids will drain away from the reflector removing dirt and grit.
  • the gaps between the shoulders 1a in effect permit reflectivity over 360° to be achieved.
  • the engagement of the cut-outs 7a with the bolts 3 enable the stud portion 5a to be screwed or unscrewed relative to the portion 5b.
  • the housing is a casting made from white nylon which is usuable over a temperature range of -45° C. to +100° C. without structural change thus rendering the marker suitable for use in regions of extreme temperatures.
  • the large area of the flange also ensures that that weight is evenly distributed over the flange, so that the marker does not sink into the road surface over a period of time.
  • a further aspect of the flexibility of this marker is that the colour of the reflector can be varied to suit different applications, e.g. a green reflector to indicate entry lanes and a red reflector to indicate exit lanes. Similarly, two or more different colours, up to four, may be combined on the same reflector of one marker, for example one half of the reflector could be red and the other half could be green. This would reduce the number of markers required for lane delineation.
  • markers hereinbefore described are intended for use on roads they could readily be used where other forms of traffic are used e.g. for air traffic on runways.
  • the road stud can be manufactured in a variety of sizes to suit different requirements, and in the UK is dimensioned such that it satisfies requirements for road studs specified by the Ministry of Transport;
  • the omnidirectional reflectivity of the stud ensures that traffic approaching the studs from any direction are warned of potential hazards.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
US06/262,795 1980-05-13 1981-05-11 Self-cleaning reflective road marker Expired - Fee Related US4413923A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8015815 1980-05-13
GB8015815 1980-05-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4413923A true US4413923A (en) 1983-11-08

Family

ID=10513386

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/262,795 Expired - Fee Related US4413923A (en) 1980-05-13 1981-05-11 Self-cleaning reflective road marker

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US4413923A (fr)
EP (1) EP0040083B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS579907A (fr)
AT (1) ATE11065T1 (fr)
CA (1) CA1167258A (fr)
DE (1) DE3168014D1 (fr)
ES (1) ES502198A0 (fr)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4504169A (en) * 1981-11-03 1985-03-12 Inoventors Limited Reflective road studs
US4597691A (en) * 1981-10-06 1986-07-01 Animotion Inc. Retractable traffic delineator
DE3615786A1 (de) * 1985-05-14 1986-11-20 H. Debuschewitz GmbH & Co KG, 5000 Köln Bodenrueckstrahler
WO1993016233A1 (fr) * 1992-02-18 1993-08-19 Olympic Machines, Inc. Borne souple pour chaussee
US20020186352A1 (en) * 2001-06-11 2002-12-12 Chen Kuo-Wen Angle-Adjusting apparatus for a reflection mirror in a rear-projection TV
US20060203343A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-14 Mark Modilevsky Retro-reflective device
US7547104B1 (en) 2007-01-08 2009-06-16 Nadonley Leonard W Reflector system
US20100003079A1 (en) * 2008-07-02 2010-01-07 Roadvision Technologies, Inc. Method of Installing Depressible Pavement Marker
US7688222B2 (en) 2003-09-18 2010-03-30 Spot Devices, Inc. Methods, systems and devices related to road mounted indicators for providing visual indications to approaching traffic
US20140054186A1 (en) * 2011-05-10 2014-02-27 Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh Disposable sensor head and disposable container
WO2014077776A1 (fr) * 2012-06-26 2014-05-22 Gerald Koh Teck Hock Plot
USD1104815S1 (en) * 2023-10-08 2025-12-09 Zhejiang Changhui Traffic Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Top of in-ground illuminated reflective road stud
USD1116890S1 (en) * 2023-10-08 2026-03-10 Zhejiang Changhui Traffic Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Top of in-ground illuminated reflective road stud
USD1120788S1 (en) * 2023-12-16 2026-03-31 Zhejiang Changhui Traffic Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Top of in-ground illuminated reflective road stud

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60148319U (ja) * 1984-03-09 1985-10-02 株式会社村尾技建 道路用の舗装面に標示する構造体
AT391157B (de) * 1985-11-08 1990-08-27 Guenther Dipl Ing Schuh Rollwegmarkierung
GB2212841B (en) * 1987-11-28 1991-10-09 Ronald Charles Fisher Reflectors
GB9316576D0 (en) * 1993-08-10 1993-09-29 Barker John E Improvements in or relating to reflecting roadstuds

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB731876A (en) * 1953-05-11 1955-06-15 Dudley Austic Layton Improvements in or relating to road marking studs
US2941447A (en) * 1957-04-11 1960-06-21 Sr Gheen R Abbott Highway marker
US3216335A (en) * 1962-03-05 1965-11-09 Stolarczyk Gregory Highway marker with reflectors
GB1176608A (en) * 1968-04-01 1970-01-07 Elliott Hirsh Kone Road marker stud.
GB1202715A (en) * 1967-02-18 1970-08-19 Austin Mcrobbie A R I B A John Improvements in road marking studs
US3570377A (en) * 1969-06-11 1971-03-16 Boris Gerber Embedded highway reflector marker
GB1324355A (en) * 1969-08-26 1973-07-25 Heal L C Light reflecting road studs
US4049358A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-09-20 Mendel King Visible markers for road surfaces
US4130370A (en) * 1977-11-14 1978-12-19 Traffic Standard Incorporated Light-reflective road marker of self-cleaning type

Family Cites Families (29)

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US1374380A (en) * 1919-12-22 1921-04-12 Bessie A Lehman Traffic-indicator
US1473375A (en) * 1921-12-30 1923-11-06 William D Kyle Traffic indicator
US1797498A (en) * 1928-07-23 1931-03-24 Percy C Finley Traffic button
US1771667A (en) * 1930-01-16 1930-07-29 Vogler Frank Clampett Traffic signal
FR764859A (fr) * 1933-02-24 1934-05-29 Perfectionnements aux moyens de signalisation pour voies urbaines, avenues, rues, passages, places publiques, ou interurbaines, routes, chaussées, etc.
FR785093A (fr) * 1935-02-04 1935-08-01 Crapaud lumineux pour signalisation des routes
US2079260A (en) * 1935-10-12 1937-05-04 Lee C Noderer Highway pilot
US2073968A (en) * 1936-03-09 1937-03-16 Carl C Krebs Highway marker
US2184004A (en) * 1937-04-30 1939-12-19 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Runway marker light
DE701887C (de) * 1939-05-03 1941-01-25 Paul Polzenberg Strassenkennzeichnung
US2303462A (en) * 1940-10-04 1942-12-01 Calcibrite Corp Road marker
GB614657A (en) * 1946-07-17 1948-12-20 Alfred Edgar Layton Improvements in or relating to road signs
GB648542A (en) * 1949-01-15 1951-01-10 Arthur Guise An improved road stud or traffic indicator
US2627784A (en) * 1949-06-29 1953-02-10 Sidney H Pellar Road traffic signal
GB697707A (en) * 1950-12-21 1953-09-30 American Steel Foundries Improvements in a fluid pressure responsive device
GB690398A (en) * 1951-01-29 1953-04-22 Arthur Guise An improved road traffic indicator stud
GB696707A (en) * 1951-03-27 1953-09-09 Dunlop Rubber Co Improvements in or relating to road-marking studs
FR1040290A (fr) * 1951-08-01 1953-10-14 Bloc réflecteur catadioptrique
DE1139142B (de) * 1954-08-30 1962-11-08 Gross & Froelich K G Fahrbahnmarkierungseinrichtung
FR68912E (fr) * 1955-05-06 1958-07-23 Perfectionnements aux systèmes fixes de signalisation
GB787972A (en) * 1955-06-23 1957-12-18 Karel Corporaal Improvements in road-marking studs and the like
GB903938A (en) * 1960-06-15 1962-08-22 Gheen Randolph Abbott Sr Reflecting highway marker
GB1163751A (en) * 1965-07-30 1969-09-10 Robert Stuart Macrae An Improved Type of Self-Cleaning Reflecting Road Stud
GB1163020A (en) * 1966-12-29 1969-09-04 Beckett Laycock & Watkinson Improvements in or relating to Road Studs
DE1709463A1 (de) * 1967-07-21 1976-08-26 Amerace Corp Strassenmarkierung
FR2118372A5 (fr) * 1970-12-18 1972-07-28 Ther Marcel
US3717076A (en) * 1971-08-06 1973-02-20 Du Pont Traffic lane indicator
US3850536A (en) * 1971-12-22 1974-11-26 Traffic Standard Inc Light-reflective road marker
US4188150A (en) * 1978-07-13 1980-02-12 Sroka Edward A Highway lane marker

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB731876A (en) * 1953-05-11 1955-06-15 Dudley Austic Layton Improvements in or relating to road marking studs
US2941447A (en) * 1957-04-11 1960-06-21 Sr Gheen R Abbott Highway marker
US3216335A (en) * 1962-03-05 1965-11-09 Stolarczyk Gregory Highway marker with reflectors
GB1202715A (en) * 1967-02-18 1970-08-19 Austin Mcrobbie A R I B A John Improvements in road marking studs
GB1176608A (en) * 1968-04-01 1970-01-07 Elliott Hirsh Kone Road marker stud.
US3570377A (en) * 1969-06-11 1971-03-16 Boris Gerber Embedded highway reflector marker
GB1324355A (en) * 1969-08-26 1973-07-25 Heal L C Light reflecting road studs
US4049358A (en) * 1975-09-04 1977-09-20 Mendel King Visible markers for road surfaces
US4130370A (en) * 1977-11-14 1978-12-19 Traffic Standard Incorporated Light-reflective road marker of self-cleaning type

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4597691A (en) * 1981-10-06 1986-07-01 Animotion Inc. Retractable traffic delineator
US4504169A (en) * 1981-11-03 1985-03-12 Inoventors Limited Reflective road studs
DE3615786A1 (de) * 1985-05-14 1986-11-20 H. Debuschewitz GmbH & Co KG, 5000 Köln Bodenrueckstrahler
WO1993016233A1 (fr) * 1992-02-18 1993-08-19 Olympic Machines, Inc. Borne souple pour chaussee
US5302048A (en) * 1992-02-18 1994-04-12 Olympic Machines, Inc. Resilient pavement marker
US20020186352A1 (en) * 2001-06-11 2002-12-12 Chen Kuo-Wen Angle-Adjusting apparatus for a reflection mirror in a rear-projection TV
US6947191B2 (en) * 2001-06-11 2005-09-20 Coretronic Corporation Angle-adjusting apparatus for a reflection mirror in a rear-projection TV
US7688222B2 (en) 2003-09-18 2010-03-30 Spot Devices, Inc. Methods, systems and devices related to road mounted indicators for providing visual indications to approaching traffic
US7859431B2 (en) 2003-09-18 2010-12-28 Spot Devices, Inc. Methods, systems and devices related to road mounted indicators for providing visual indications to approaching traffic
US20060203343A1 (en) * 2005-03-10 2006-09-14 Mark Modilevsky Retro-reflective device
US7547104B1 (en) 2007-01-08 2009-06-16 Nadonley Leonard W Reflector system
US20100003079A1 (en) * 2008-07-02 2010-01-07 Roadvision Technologies, Inc. Method of Installing Depressible Pavement Marker
US9534351B2 (en) 2008-07-02 2017-01-03 Roadvision Technologies, Inc. Method of installing depressible pavement marker
US10443198B2 (en) 2008-07-02 2019-10-15 Roadvision Technologies, Inc. Depressible pavement device
US20140054186A1 (en) * 2011-05-10 2014-02-27 Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh Disposable sensor head and disposable container
US9400243B2 (en) * 2011-05-10 2016-07-26 Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh Disposable sensor head and disposable container
WO2014077776A1 (fr) * 2012-06-26 2014-05-22 Gerald Koh Teck Hock Plot
USD1104815S1 (en) * 2023-10-08 2025-12-09 Zhejiang Changhui Traffic Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Top of in-ground illuminated reflective road stud
USD1116890S1 (en) * 2023-10-08 2026-03-10 Zhejiang Changhui Traffic Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Top of in-ground illuminated reflective road stud
USD1120788S1 (en) * 2023-12-16 2026-03-31 Zhejiang Changhui Traffic Safety Technology Co., Ltd. Top of in-ground illuminated reflective road stud

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0040083A2 (fr) 1981-11-18
EP0040083A3 (en) 1982-05-26
ES8204020A1 (es) 1982-04-01
EP0040083B1 (fr) 1985-01-02
ES502198A0 (es) 1982-04-01
DE3168014D1 (en) 1985-02-14
ATE11065T1 (de) 1985-01-15
JPS579907A (en) 1982-01-19
CA1167258A (fr) 1984-05-15

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